United States federal judge Paula Xinis expressed deep concern when the Trump administration failed to follow her court directive regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident wrongfully deported to El Salvador.
During a tense Friday hearing, Xinis insisted the administration disclose Abrego Garcia’s current location and provide daily updates on their efforts to secure his return. Abrego Garcia, originally from El Salvador, has been a resident in Maryland since 2011, escaping gang recruitment in his home country. He has lived under a protective court order since 2019, following his claim of fleeing gang violence. His wife and child are American citizens.
Despite the court order, Abrego Garcia was detained by ICE on March 12 for alleged gang affiliations and deported on March 15 on one of several high-profile flights to El Salvador—the flights also included alleged Venezuelan gang members.
In response to the unlawful deportation, Abrego Garcia’s family has taken legal action. On April 4, Judge Xinis mandated the administration to “facilitate and effectuate” his return. However, the Trump administration contested this at the Supreme Court, which upheld Xinis’s decision but deemed the term “effectuate” ambiguous and potentially overstepping judicial authority.
The Supreme Court then directed the Trump administration to organize Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to detail their efforts to return him to the United States.
Judge Xinis, pressing for answers on what actions had been taken to return Abrego Garcia, said, “I want to know where he is and under whose authority. I’m not asking for state secrets. The government was strictly told not to send him to El Salvador, and now the question is straightforward: Where is he?”
The Trump administration pledged compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling, citing that they will provide the required information by the end of the following Tuesday, after they have evaluated the ruling.
After the Supreme Court’s ruling advocating clarification on Xinis’s order “with due regard for deference” to the executive branch, the administration argued that stating their next steps before appropriate agreement and vetting would be “unreasonable and impracticable,” as foreign affairs cannot operate within judicial timelines.
Abrego Garcia’s legal team accused the Trump administration of delaying and defying court orders, claiming that a man’s life and safety are at risk.
Jennifer Vasquez Sura, Ab
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/11/extremely-troubling-judge-questions-why-us-cannot-locate-deported-man?traffic_source=rss
